THE STAG AND HIS REFLECTION

[46] A STAG, drinking from a crystal spring, saw himself mirrored
in the clear water. He greatly
admired the graceful arch of his
antlers, but he was very much
ashamed of his spindling legs.

"How can it be," he sighed,
"that I should be cursed with such
legs when I have so magnificent
a crown."

At that moment he scented
a panther and in an instant was
bounding away through the forest.
But as he ran his wide-spreading
antlers caught in the branches of
the trees, and soon the Panther
overtook him. Then the Stag
perceived that the legs of which
he was so ashamed would have
saved him had it not been for the
useless ornaments on his head.

We often make much of the ornamental and despise the useful.

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